Protecting Young Trees From Buck Rub During the Fall Rut

To protect young trees from buck rub, put a physical barrier around the trunk from late August through December: a 4 to 5 foot tall cylinder of welded wire or hardware cloth held off the bark by 6 to 12 inches, or three steel posts driven in a triangle close around the trunk. Repellents and soft plastic wraps do little against rubbing, because the buck is not eating; he is scraping velvet and marking territory. Trees with trunks between about 1 and 4 inches across are the usual targets, so new plantings and young fruit and shade trees need it most.

Why bucks rub trees

Rubbing starts as antlers harden and bucks strip the velvet in late summer, then intensifies during the rut in October and November. Bucks scrape bark and cambium with their antlers and forehead glands to leave scent and visual markers. They prefer smooth-barked, flexible saplings, often aromatic ones such as cedars, pines, maples, and fruit trees, and they tend to return to the same spot year after year.

The damage is serious. Shredded bark on one side slows growth; bark stripped all the way around (girdling) kills the tree above the wound. Broken leaders and snapped branches are common too.

What works and what does not

• Wire cylinders (best): 4 to 5 feet tall, 2 to 3 feet across, staked so they cannot be pushed against the trunk. Antlers cannot reach the bark.
• Three or four steel posts driven around the trunk about 12 inches out: rubbing stops because there is no room to swing the antlers.
• Tall rigid mesh trunk guards: good for single trees, but choose the 4 foot height; short spiral guards protect against rabbits and mice, not antlers.
• Repellent sprays: useful for browsing (deer eating buds and twigs), weak for rubbing.
• Soft paper or plastic wrap: protects from sunscald and rodents, not bucks. See tree wrap and trunk guards for winter.

Step-by-step: build a wire cage

1. Cut a length of welded wire fence or hardware cloth long enough for a 2 to 3 foot diameter circle, about 6 to 9 feet.
2. Form it into a cylinder around the tree and fasten the ends with wire or heavy zip ties.
3. Drive two or three steel posts inside or alongside the cage and fasten the wire to them so a buck cannot shove it into the trunk.
4. Leave room for growth. The wire should not touch the bark or branches.
5. Check after storms and through the rut. Rubs often start right next to protected trees, so look for new marks on unprotected ones.

Wear gloves when handling cut wire; the ends are sharp. Hardware cloth and welded wire are long-lasting and can be reused for years as the trees grow.

What should you do with a rubbed trunk?

• Trim ragged bark loosely hanging from the wound with a clean, sharp knife or pruners so the edges are smooth. Do not cut into healthy bark.
• Skip wound paint and tar. Trees seal wounds on their own; sealants can trap moisture.
• Keep the tree watered through fall dry spells and mulch the root zone. See tree watering bags for fall-planted trees.
• Cage it immediately. A buck that rubbed once will usually come back.
• If the bark is stripped all the way around, the top will likely die. Young trees may resprout from below the wound; otherwise replant in spring.

Protecting a whole planting

For a home orchard or a long row of young trees, individual cages add up. A deer fence around the planting may cost less per tree; our deer fencing and netting guide compares options. Pair it with a browse plan from our fall and winter deer repellent guide for buds and twigs.

No plant or barrier is truly deer-proof. Deer pressure varies with region, season, herd size, and how hard the winter is. If you use a repellent spray, follow the label, and keep pets away from fresh applications. If a pet eats a treated plant or the product, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

Bottom line

Rubbing is territorial, not hunger, so only a physical barrier stops it. Ring young trunks with a staked 4 to 5 foot wire cage or a triangle of steel posts from late August through December, trim ragged bark on any rubbed tree, and cage it right away.

Related reading

• How to deer-proof a garden without a fence
• Deer repellent for fall and winter browse
• Fruit trees to plant in fall
• Tree wrap and trunk guards for winter